March 4, 2014 is my 6 year Sparkaversary. It's hard to think that I have gone from year to year with ZERO success for SIX years in a row! Granted, I did experience a period of success where I lost 30 pounds a few years back. I thought, "This is it...I'll never be the fat girl again!" That's when I had to think again.

My bad knee, the one that had been threatening me all those years, finally gave out. My plantar fasciitis finally got so bad I had to back off of working out due to ...

March 4, 2014 is my 6 year Sparkaversary. It's hard to think that I have gone from year to year with ZERO success for SIX years in a row! Granted, I did experience a period of success where I lost 30 pounds a few years back. I thought, "This is it...I'll never be the fat girl again!" That's when I had to think again.

My bad knee, the one that had been threatening me all those years, finally gave out. My plantar fasciitis finally got so bad I had to back off of working out due to extreme pain in my foot. The pain in my foot lasted for so long that I never got back to exercising again. Just walking to my bedroom was torture! Eventually, I quit eating healthy as well. I pretty much gave up and didn't care at all. In June of 2013 I found out my blood sugar was beginning to be consistently high. Ugh!

Just as suddenly as it came on the pain in my foot left! Then I realized I hadn't had knee trouble in some time. I started thinking that I really had to work out so I could get my blood sugar under control without meds. That was a bit difficult. I had these motivating factors to work out again but my heart just wasn't in it.

A couple year ago, I used to work out 1 1/2 to 2 hours a day! That was in addition to walking on my treadmill. I was lucky if I lost 2 pounds a month! Seriously! It was hard to think about working out for little to no reward. It took a few months, but eventually, I found that my being labeled as a Type 2 diabetic was not going to be a label I was willing to keep. I started to find my resolve to try once again.

So, after almost 6 years of "failure" I am choosing to find the enthusiasm I once had and move forward! I have been back for 2 weeks and I have already lost 5.2 pounds! Woo Hoo!

Upon reflecting the years past, one lesson I learned is while I was eating right and exercising like a mad woman, but not losing weight, there was one great thing I was not doing�I was NOT GAINING ANY! :)

Do you know another thing that eating right and exercising like a mad woman did for me? It gave me great lab stats! My cholesterol is great at 168 and my LDL is 63. (Can�t remember my triglycerides.) Not bad for a fat person! ;) [This is old info. from 2 years ago. I'd hate to see my lab stats today. This shows that even if you do not lose weight while trying to eat right and exercise it is not for nothing!]

BTW�I'm Gina A.K.A. GinaLaughed! I'm a 43yo wife and mother, married to my college sweetheart (25 years August 2014) and I have 2 children (20yog & 10yob) and a little American Hairless Terrier named Bindi Blue. (I am a major cat person but allergies force me to do the hairless dog thing...it's better than not having a pet at all...besides, Bindi is such a loving sweetheart!)

I'm a homeschoolin' mom. I love music, photography, graphics, web design, crochet and I play the flute and guitar. I love scrappin'. My first big purchase was a Cricut...love that thing! I've always wanted to learn to quilt one day and I am now learning! Yay!

Last but certainly NOT least...I rely on God for everything so weight loss will be no different. You will most definitely see me post a lot of about the spiritual side of weight loss. God is a huge part of who I am and I hope that others, believers or not, will be encouraged by what I share. I'm not here to beat you over the head with my beliefs or debate...only to encourage...please respect that. Thank you!

My Monthly Progress Blog Posts

2014 February: http://goo.gl/apMdQV March: http://goo.gl/FZaG5X

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ "Do caterpillars know they are going to be butterflies, or does God surprise them?" For me the answer is I know that I am going to be a lovely blue butterfly! One day soon...with God's help, Dr. McDougall's help, exercise and baby steps. :) ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

�Success is walking from failure to failure with no loss of enthusiasm.� Winston Churchill

☐ ~Find a primary Spark Teams I connect with to participate in on a daily basis.

Personal Information:
A desert rose from NM transplanted in TN.

I'm married to my college sweetheart who is also my best friend for life. I don't know what I'd do without him. We will soon be celebrating our 25th anniversary August 2014! We're looking forward to many, many more! (I would like to have some nice pictures of us taken so I'm sticking to SparkPeople! He's working hard toward losing weight as well. He has already lost a lot o weight...just like a man! LOL)

We have two precious, tender-hearted children who love the Lord. They were born 10 years 2 months and 2 days apart. :) My daughter is 20 and my son is 10. They are a wonderful blessing in my life.

Other Information:
My Favorite Quotes: ~'The first step on the way to victory is to recognize the enemy.' ~Corrie Ten Boom

~'Forgiveness is an act of the will, and the will can function regardless of the temperature of the heart.' ~Corrie Ten Boom

~'It is not my ability, but my response to God's ability, that counts.' ~Corrie Ten Boom

~'Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God.' ~Corrie Ten Boom

~'Laugh a lot, and when you're older, all your wrinkles will be in the right places!' ~unknown

Hi! I'm on the Golden Phoenix team with you. I love your quote! I see that you are doing the Jillian Michael's 90 Day Body Revolution Program.....have you already started it?? I'm starting it next Monday! I'm excited to be on the same team with you and look forward getting to know you during the challenge! :)